REVIEW: Lowland - The Other Side out on Black Hole Recordings

Within the scene, Lowland is a name regularly spoken with hushed reverence. Through his ‘Classic Trancelations’ albums, he’s the man largely credited with first drawing the line between the now familiar worlds of orchestral music and trance. He’s also a composer somewhat more spoken-of than musically heard-from. Recording when – and only when – inspired, the Finlander enjoys the additional cachet of release rarity.

Inspiration has seized Petri Alanko of late though, and seized him big. The results of that - now signed in their entirety to Black Hole Recordings, will be fully evidenced throughout the second half of 2017.

It all starts today though, through the release of ‘The Other Side’ - his first solo outing in almost a decade.

What Lowland has come up with is a piece of music that transcends both decades and absolute classification. Through imaginative techniques, it seamlessly draws together strands and elements from many trance strata, whilst never standing still long enough to have its colours truly pinned to one mast.

Setting it on its path, the monophonic, almost Gregorian chant of its vocal intro is backed by low-slung bass and rolling drums. Dazzlingly, its song pivots, taking on an almost New Wave-ish feel. In a constant state of tonal shift and modulation, the track elevates alongside it, cleverly accessing an entirely new type of uplift.

With ‘The Other Side’, Lowland’s played his first wildcard. The rest of trance’s 2017 landscape is going to be that much more interesting for it - experience it for yourself here today.

[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]Black Hole Recordings is the major player in the resurrection of the trance scene with superb music now by the hands of Lowland. His track The Other Side is what trance should be about if it means to touch wider audiences with underground feel too. Powerful solid driving basslines, rolling drums and on top emotional strings and warm themes along with classical orchestral influences while the male vocal adds that electro pop/new wave feel to the track connecting the past with the present for a better brighter future. Solid production with fantastic atmosphere that manage in its 10 minutes duration to carry you away and introduce you to the other side. This is what should be called imaginative inspiring trance! #PureGold Love IT [/content]